Combined preoperative femoral and sciatic nerve blockade improves analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Monica W Harbell; Joshua M Cohen; Kerstin Kolodzie; Matthias Behrends; Matthias R Braehler; Sakura Kinjo; Brian T Feeley; Pedram Aleshi

doi:10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.02.021

Combined preoperative femoral and sciatic nerve blockade improves analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

J Clin Anesth. 2016 Sep:33:68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.02.021. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Authors

Monica W Harbell¹, Joshua M Cohen², Kerstin Kolodzie², Matthias Behrends², Matthias R Braehler², Sakura Kinjo², Brian T Feeley³, Pedram Aleshi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco. Electronic address: Monica.Harbell@ucsf.edu.
² Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco.
³ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.

PMID: 27555136
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.02.021

Abstract

Study objective: To compare preoperative femoral (FNB) with combined femoral and sciatic nerve block (CFSNB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Ambulatory surgery center affiliated with an academic medical center.

Patients: Sixty-eight American Society of Anesthesiology physical status I and II patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Interventions: Subjects randomized to the CFSNB group received combined femoral and sciatic nerve blocks preoperatively, whereas patients randomized to the FNB group only received femoral nerve block preoperatively. Both groups then received a standardized general anesthetic with a propofol induction followed by sevoflurane or desflurane maintenance. Intraoperative pain was treated with fentanyl. Pain in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) was treated with ketorolac and opiates. Patients with significant pain despite ketorolac and opiates could receive a rescue nerve block.

Measurements: Our primary outcome variable was highest Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score in PACU. NRS pain scores, opioid consumption, opioid adverse effects, and patient satisfaction were assessed perioperatively until postoperative day 3.

Main results: The highest PACU NRS pain score was significantly higher in the FNB group compared with the CFSNB group (7 [3-10] vs 5 [0-10], P=.002). The FNB group required significantly larger doses of opioids perioperatively (31.8 vs 19.8mg intravenous morphine equivalents, P<.001). PACU length of stay was significantly longer in the FNB group (128.2 vs 103.1minutes, P=.006). There was no significant difference in opioid consumption, pain scores, or patient satisfaction on postoperative days 1-3 between groups.

Conclusions: Preoperative CFSNB for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction improves analgesia, decreases opioid consumption perioperatively, and decreases PACU length of stay when compared with FNB alone.

Keywords: Ambulatory surgical procedures; Anterior cruciate ligament; Femoral nerve; Nerve block; Sciatic nerve.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / methods
Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
Anesthesia, General / methods
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / methods*
Arthroscopy / methods
Drug Administration Schedule
Female
Femoral Nerve*
Humans
Male
Nerve Block / methods*
Pain Measurement / methods
Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
Patient Satisfaction
Preoperative Care / methods
Prospective Studies
Sciatic Nerve*
Young Adult

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid